Brush making machine



Jan' 23, 1940- w. D. LIPPs BRUsH MAKING MACHINE Filed May '7, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 cur LD.

Jan. 23, 1940. w. D. LlPPs smsa MAKING MACHINE:

/ 5 Sheets-Sheet 2V Filed May 7, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 7, 1938 Jan. 23, 1940. w D 1 PPs 2,l87,79l

BRUsH MAKING MACHINE Filed May 7, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 23, 1940. w. D. LlPPs BRUSH MAKING MACHINE 5 sneets-sheet 5 Filed May 7, 1938 Pasma Jm. za, 1940 UNITEDl sTATEs 2,1875. BRUSH MAKING MACHINE William D. Lipps, Frederick, Md., assignor to x Fibre Brush Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 7, 1938, Serial No. 206,574

8 Claims.

This invention relates to brush making machines, having reference more especially to mechansm for the production of an elongated mop-like brush, or a "duster", of the type wherein a succession of bunches of relatively long strands of yam or other suitable soft fibrous material are attached midway of their ends to, and transversely of, the lower edge of an elongated brush back so as to ldepend in close folded relation throughout the length of the back, or substantially so.

Mechanism embodying my invention is especially, though not exclusively, adapted, to be used in connection with' or as an attachment 'to brush machines of the kind illustrated in Letters Patent of the United States No. 578,907, dated March 16, 1897, and No. 664,989, dated January 1, 1901, to which reference may be had.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the mechansm herein illustrated comprises means whereby plural strands of yarn, drawn from spools or the like, are laicl in parallelism, advanced step-by-step and progressively severed in uniforxn lengths, and means whereby each succeeding length is fastened intermediate its ends to and transversely of a suitably supported brush back.

The invention also comprises novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described; the scope of the invention being expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a brush machine embodying the principle of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a plan of an intermittently rotatable yarn clampfng and guiding reel, and cuting mechansm in cooperative relation thereto, the cutter being shown in severing position preparatory to the fastening of a measured length of yarn to an underlying brush back.

Fig. 4 is a transverse Vertical section through the reel and adjuncts, as on the line l-l of Flg. 3.

Fig. 4a; is a sectional detail of a cam and coacting roll for actuating the cutter supporting bed.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, through the reel adjacent the staple former and driver, as on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through the reel, as on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, showing a measured guaxtity of yarn as pcsitioned above a brush Fig. 7 is a sectional detail of the brush back and the acting portion of'the staple former and grhr, showing the yarn as stapled to the brush 5 Flg. 8 is a transverse Vertical section through the brush back and its support, showing the stapled yarn.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a yarn brush or uduster such as produced by the machine.

Referring to the drawings, |5 designates the main supporting frame, and IG the drive shaft of a brush machine. i'l designates a lower itransverse shaft which is intermittently driven through suitable connections with the main shaft,

substantially as shown and 'described in Patent No. 664,989 aforesaid.y Such connections as herein shown include a ratchet wheel '|8 fast on the shaft I'l, a rock arm |9 bearing a pawl 20 in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, a cam 2| on the shaft IG, an adjacent rock arm 22 having a roll 23 in contact with the cam, and a rod 2| connecting the two rock arms. The shaft l'l has fast thereon spaced wheels 25 and o 28 having peripheral pattem cams 21 and 28,

respectively, which determine the succeeding movements of the mechansm for controlling the Operating positions of the table 29 on which the brush back B is removably supported. i

In the machine disclosed in Patent No. 664,989, two juxtaposed tables are employed, one of which is adapted to support a brush back and present it at different angles to a vertically reciprocative boring tool which is effective to form suitably arranged tuft-receiving holes in and throughout the upper surface of the back, and the other of which tables is adapted to receive the bored back and similarly present it to the 40 effective path of staple forming and driving mechansm which is operative to insert bunches of fibre, in tuft form, in the respective holes of the back and staple the tufts therein.

In the present machine a single table 29, which is arranged below and in cooperative relation to the staple forming and driving mechansm, is employed, since the pre-boring of the brush back is not required in the production of the present brush. This table is supported on a rectangular frame 30 which is flxed, as at 3|, to a depending frame 32, pivoted at its lower end to two Vertical slides 33 which are mounted in guides 3| in two stationary standards 35. Thus the table is movable forward and back about'the axis of the pivoted frame, and is also vertically movable with the slides, in order that a` brush back on` the table may be properly positioned to receive the yarn and the staples.

The mechanism for imparting the longitudinal and Vertical movements to the table and the brush back thereon is generally similar to the mechanism for that purpose described in Patent No. 884,989, it being noted that in the latter, mechanism is provided to impart a to and fro sidewise motion to the table or back, which mechanism is absent from and is not necessary in the present machine.

In the construction illustrated herein the cams 21 of wheel 25 control the forward and back motion of the table. These cams act on the roll 88 of an upstanding lever 81 which is fulcrumed on a stud 88 that is supported in a depending bracket 39 on the main frame. The upper end of the lever 81 is connected by means of a link 48 with an up-standing arm 4| which is secured at its lower end to the pivoted frame 32. The lever 81 is held in operative contact with the cams 21 by means of a weight 42 which is suspended from a cable 43 that runs over a suitabl:)7 supported sheave 44 and is connected with the upper end of the lever 31. During the rotation of the cam wheel 25 its cams intermittently move the table 29 forward or backward step-by-step corresponding with the succeeding lcngltudinal movements to be imparted to the brush back.

The cams 28 of wheel 26 control the Vertical movement of the table. These cams act on the roll 45 of a rearwardly extending lever arm 48 fast on a transverse shaft 41 having its bearings in brackets 48 depending from the main frame. The shaft 41 has secured thereto, adjacent its respective ends, forwardly extending lever arms 48 which are connected by means of links 50 with the respective slides 83. During the rotation of the cam wheel 28 its cams intermittently raise the table in timed relation to its forward or back motion. i

In pursuance of my invention the table 29 is provided with a pair of spaced flanged plates 5|, one of which is fixed and the other is laterally movable relatively thereto, a suitable locking lever 52 for the latter being provided. These plates constitute an elongated holder or gripper adapted to support a relatively long and narrow brush back, B, having at one end an outwardly extending handle portion b; The back has formed in its upper edge a longitudinal groove or recess g across which are adapted to be arranged in close relation to each other suceeding bunches of yam Y of uniform length, each bunch being then medially seated in the recess and secured to the base by means of a single staple, S, whereof the legs straddle the yarn and are driven down into the back, as will presently appear.

The Purpose of raising the brush back B is to position directly in the Vertical path of the staple each succeding part of the back on which a length of yarn is to be seated and secured, and the purpose of inclining the back during its intermittent movement is to ensure the proper insertion of the staple thereinto, astride the yarn length, without obstructionby the next previously applied length of yarn, in that the loose ends of the latter depend in anguiar relation to the inclined back.

Fixed to the standard of the main frame |5 is a horizontal frame structure comprising a rearwardly extending bar 58 to the free end of which is bolted a bracket 54 upon which is supported one end portion of a transversely extending bar 55. The latter bar has affixed thereto a post 58 to the top of which is secured, as by a screw 51, a radially extending bar 58, which constitutes a cam member, as will presently appear. This member is supported at its outer end by a suitably located angle piece 59 which is fastened to an adjacent part of the main frame.

Upon the post 56 is mounted the hub or base of an intermittently rotatable yam clamplng and releasing reel to which a plurality of closely associated strands of yarn Y, taken from suitable spools or other source of supply, are tangentially directed by means of a tubular guide 6| that is conveniently supported by a bracket 82 on the cross-bar 55 of the frame structure. The reel in its intermittent movement advances and guides the yarn a measured distance beyond the path of a swinging rotary cutter element 88 and transversely across the underlying brush back B, so that when the leading portion of the yarn is severed by the cutter a determined length of material is in proper position to be medially stapled directly to the brush back.

Any suitable ymeans for intermittently actuating the reel may be employed. The means herein illustrated includes a bevel gear 84 fast on the hub or base 80 of the reel and in mesh with a similar gear 65 fast on the inner end of a horizontal shaft 51 on the cross-bar 55 and in the angular member 88 of the latter. Fast on the outer end of this shaft 85 is the driven member 59 of a Geneva stop motion, the driver 10 therefor being fast on a stud shaft 1| projecting from the angular frame member 58. The stud. shaft 1| is provided with a sprocket wheel12 which is connected by means of a chain 13 with a similar wheel 14 on the main drive shaft IG. 'I'hus motion is transmitted from the latter shaft to the Geneva element, 'thence through the shaft 86 and bevel gearing 84, 55 to the reel.

In the present instance the reel includes a series of spaced radial clamping elements and a series of similarly spaced radial guiding elements alternating with those of the other series, the whole being mounted on and turnable with the base 60, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4.

Each of the clamping elements includes two arms 15 and 1G. one being superposed on the other and each arm being similarly bifurcated and sha'ped at its outer end to provide complementary gripping jaws 11 for the associated iibrous strands delivered therebetween as previously mentioned. The inner end of the'lower arm 15 is seated in recesses in the base or hub 60 and is secured in place, as by screws 18. A cap plate 19 having radia] projections 80 alternating with the guiding elements is fixed to the base so as to overlie the inner ends of the arms 15. Each of the upper arms 16 is provided between its ends with a bottom projection 8| which is rockably seated on the companion fixed arm 15. The outer end of the arm 15 is urged normally to clamping position by the action of a suitably-disposed spring 82 against the head of a screw 83, which, rising from the lower arm, extends freely through an opening in the upper arm. The outer bifurcated portion of the arm 16 is provided with a pair of spaced verticallydisposed fingers 84, the lower portions 80 of which depend between the outer members of the adjacent arm 15. These fingers are shaped and positioned to aiford an efiicient hacking for the 66 having its bearings in a bracket yarn which is interposed between the respective gripping iaws. The inner end of` each arm 18 is provided with an upstanding angular flange 85 which in the intermittent rotation of the reel, impinges against and rides under the stationary cam 88 hereinbefore referred to, thus depressing the fianged end and raising the outer end of the arm in a manner to open the gripping jaws. When the flange escapes the presser cam 58 the jaws are'closed by the action of the spring 82 on the upper jaw. This cam is so disposed in respect to the path of rotation of the reel that the jaws are flrst opened for the entry of the yarnV therebetween, and then closed to grip the yam upon the initiai step of the reel.

Each of the guide elements altemating with the clamping elements comprises an arm 88 which is bifurcated at its outer end to provide a pair of spaced members 81, whereof the free ends are formed with up-standing fingers 88 outwardly flared at their upper ends. Parallel pins 89 are afiixed to the members 81 in-spaced relation to the respective fingers 88. The companion flngers and pins perform the function of guides for the associated strands of yam as they pass about the reel from gripper to gripper. The intermittent travel of the reel is such that at the end of each step thereof, one of the gripper elements is positioned to receive and grasp the yam which has been directed thereto by the tubular guide 8|. The yarn thus gripped is advanced step by step by the reel until the leading portion of the yam overlies the brush back which is supported on the table 29, the trailing portion of the yarn being held and guided at spaced intervals by the alternating grippers and guides, respectively. Each step of the reel advances the yarn a determined distance corresponding with the length of yam to be applied to the brush back. When at the end of each step the leading portion of the yam is properly positioned across the brush back, such portion is severed from the body of the yam by the cutter 53 as will presently appear.

The arm 88 of each guide element is loosely supported at its inner end, for limited Vertical movement, on the lower end of a bolt 98 which depends from the base 89 of the reel. An adjacent bolt 9|,.depending from the proximate projection 88 of the cap plate 19, extends freely through an opening in the arm 88 thus serving to steady and guide the arm in its vertical movement. This arm is maintained in. down positon, with its guide members free from the yam, during and for a short interval of time after the delivery of the yam through the guide tube 8| to each succeeding gripper and guide element. The arm is then elevated to its guiding position and retained therein until such gripper and guide elements have progressed to the yarn receiving position. The periodical raising and lowering of the guide elements is effected and controlled by a stationary segmental cam 92 which is located below and concentrc with the reel. This cam 92 is'afilxed to an angular bracket 83 on the crossbar 55 of the frame structure. The" upper or acting edge of the cam is so disposed that in each rotation of the reel the cam intercepts the v successive arms 88 and raises them to active position, maintain'ing the arms thus raised until they progress to and enter the gap between the ends of the cam. Thereupon the arms 86, sinking, withdraw the guide members to idle positon in order to ensure the unobstructed delivery of the yarn to the gripper ;laws of the reel. i

The space between the centers of the guide iingers 8| o f the adjacent gripping jaws 11 determines the length of the leading portion of the yarn 'to'be -severed,' and hence when one of the bifurcated guide members overlies the brush back, it supports the midportion of the length of yarn, while the ends of the length are held by the adjacent grippers, as seen in Flg. 3. The center of the gripper at the right or rear side of the brush back is in line with the path of the cutter 88, and, therefore,when the cutter is swung radially inward it passes between the backer flngers of such gripper and efliciently severs the determined length from the leading end of the yarn.

In the present instance a rotary discal cutter is employed. This cutter is fast on one end of a horizontal spindle 94 which is mounted in a bearing 85 supported on a bed plate 88 that is pivoted, as at 91, to the cross-bar 55 of the frame structure. The spindle 84 is in axial alinement with and is coupled to the shaft 98 of an electric motor 89 which is supported on the pivoted bed plate, thus rapidly and constantly rotating the cutter. The plate 96 and its appurtenances, including the cutter, are held normally outward and away from the reel by means of a suitablydisposed spring |80 which is secured to the bar 55.

Fast on the bed plate is an angular arm IM having a bifurcated end portion. |82 on which is mounted a roll |03 which is held in contact with a stationary inclined cam IM fast on the foot of a vertically movable rod 185, wherebyl when the rod is lowered the bed plate is forced inward by the action of the cam IM against the roll |03, thereby causing the cutter to sever the yarn. When the rod |05 is thereafter raised the spring retracts the bed plate and its appurtenances, including the cutter, the outward movement of the whole being limited by the contact of the roll |83 with the lower Vertical face IOB of the cam. i

The rod |85, which is mounted in suitable guides on a supporting bar 206 bolted to the upper portion of the main frame, is vertically reciprocated in timed relation to the movements of the brush table 29 similarly to the boring spindle in the machine disclosed in Patent No. 578,907; that is to say, the upper end of the rod |05 is connected by means of a link |81 with one arm |88 of a lever which is pivoted to the main frame, the other arm l|ll9 of the lever being provided with a roll llll which runs in the race of a face cam on the main shaft.

The staple forming and driving .mechanism herein illustrated is similar to the mechanism for that purpose disclosed in Patent No. 578,907, and therefore need not be herein particularly described. Such mechanism includes vertically movable slides ||2 and ||3 one within the other, which in each successive downward stroke are relatively operated to form a Wire staple, S, and in ccnjunction therewith to straddle the underlying length of yarn directly-above the grooved surface g of the brush back and thereby staple the yarn in the back, as previously mentioned. See Figs. 5, 7 and 8. The mechanism for operating the slides includes a rock lever IM which is connected at its ends with the slides and with a crank-arm ||5 on the shaft 8 by means of links ||8 and Ill, respectively. The means for feeding the wire to the staple forming and driving mechanism may be of any conventional form, such, for example, as a pair of intermittently actuated feed Wheels ||8 of the character described in Patent No. 578,907, aforesaid.

It is to be understood that my invention is not tangentially to the reel, means for severing from the body of the yarn each succeeding length when it is clamped on the reel and positioned across the brush back, and means for fastening each length intermediate its ends to the brush back and with the ends extending beyond the respective sides of the brush back.

2. In a brush making machine, means for supporting an elongated brush back, means comprising a rotatable element having peripheral clamping and guiding members for grasping and advancing yarn in measured lengths and posi-V tioning each succeeding leading length across a brush back in spaced relation, means for severing from the body of the yarn each succeeding leading length, and means for fastening each length intermediate its ends to the brush back.

3. In a brush making machine having a longitudinally and vertically-movable brush-back supporting table, means comprising a rotatable element having peripheral clamping and guiding members aranged in alternation for grasping and advancing yarn in measured lengths and positioning each succeeding leading length across a brush back on the table in spaced relation, means for severing from the body of the yam each suc- -ceeding leading length, and means for fastening each length intermediate its ends to the brush back.

4. In a brush making machine having -a longitudinally and vertically-movable brush back supporting table, means for actuating said table, means comprising a rotatable element having peripheral clamping and guiding members arranged in alternation for grasping and advancing yarn in measured lengths and positioning each succeeding leading length across a brush back on the table in spaced relation, means for intermittently rotating said element and for actuating its clamping and guiding members in timed relation to the table, means for severing from the body of the yam each succeeding leading length when it is positioned across the brush back, and means for fastening each length intermediate its ends to the brush back.

5. In a brush making machine, a measuring reel including peripheral yarn clamping and guiding elements arranged in alternation, means for supplyingyarn tangntially to said elements, means for intermittently rotating said reel whereby the yarn supplied thereto is successively advanced a determined distancekmeans for severing from the body of the yarn eachsucceeding leading length thereof which is held by two -adiacent clamping elements and 4supported by the inter- 6. In a brush making machine, a measuring reel including radial yarn clamping and guiding elements arranged in alternation, each of the clamping elements including relatively movable jaws, and each of said guiding elements including an upstanding fixed guide member and a relativelyvmovable guide member spaced therefrom, means for intermittently rotating the said reel, means for feeding yam to the clamping and guiding elements, means for severing each succeeding leading portion of the yarn while it is held between the jaws of two clamping elements and supported by and between the guide members of the intervening guiding element, and means for periodically opening and closing the said jaws and for actuating the movable guide member in timed relation to the severing meansl during the rotation of the reel.

7. In a brush making machine, a measuring reel including equally-spaced peripheral clamping elements, each including two pairs of complementary gripper jaws and a pair of spaced backer members therebetween, means for intermittently' rotating said reel, means for progressively supplying yam to4 the clamping elements, means for severing each succeeding leading portion of the yarn while it is held between the jaws of two clamping elements, said severing means including a cutter movable across the path of the yarn and between the backer members of the clamping element which holds the trailing end of such leading portion, and means for periodically opening and closing the gpper jaws in timed relation to the cutter during the rotation of the reel.

8. In a brush making machine, a measuring reel including equally-spaced peripheral clamping and guiding elements arranged in altemation. each of the clamping elements including two pairs of relatively movable complementary jaws and a pair of spaced backer members therebetween, and each of said guiding elements including a pair of spaced supporting members having fixed and relatively movable guide members, means for intermittently rotating the said reel, means for feeding yarn to the clamping and guiding elementsnmeans for severing each succeeding leading portion of the yam while it is held between the jaws of two clamping elements and supported by and between the guide members of the intervening guide element, said severing means including a cutter movable across the path of the yarn and between the backer members of the clamping element which holds the trailing end of such leading portion, and means for periodically opening and closing the said jaws and for actuating the movable guide members in timed relation to the cutter during the rotation of the reel.

WILLIAM D. LIPPS. 

